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Definitions

• the present invention relates to cancer therapy and/or diagnosis.
• it relates to Natural-Killer/T -Cell Lymphoma (NKTCL) therapy and/or diagnosis.
• NTCL Natural-Killer/T -Cell Lymphoma
• NK-cell lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Most NHLs (90%) are of B-cell origin. NK-cell lymphomas do not arise from B-cells. However, controversy still exists over the normal cell from which NK-cell lymphomas arise. In particular, whether NK-cell lymphoma represents the presence of a true NK cell or merely the presence of a T cell with abnormal cell markers is under debate. In the absence of unequivocal proof of the exact lineage of NK-cell lymphoma, many investigators prefer to use the term NK/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) when classifying this condition.
• NHLs non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Natural-killer T-cell lymphoma is particularly prevalent in Asian countries and some parts of Latin America. It accounts for up to half of all mature T cell lymphoma cases in Asia (1 ). However, compared to the more common B cell lymphomas, very little is known about its molecular characteristics and pathogenesis. There has been little progress in basic science and clinical research in this subtype of lymphoma, which continues to constitute a major challenge in managing these patients as there is currently no accepted standard first-line treatment for NKTCL. Despite multi-agent chemotherapy and involved-field radiotherapy, the 5-year overall survival is approximately 9% for non-nasal NKTCL and 42% for nasal NKTCL (2, 3).
• NKTCLs Compared to B cell lymphomas which are relatively more common, very little is known about the molecular characteristics and pathogenesis of NKTCLs. This may be in part due to relative rarity in the West and difficulty in obtaining adequate biopsy. Treatment of NKTCLs with conventional chemotherapy has thus far yielded poor results and the outcome is almost always fatal for patients with stage III or IV disease.
• the present invention relates to cancer therapy and/or diagnosis, in particular Natural- Killer/T-Cell Lymphoma (NKTGL) therapy and/or diagnosis.
• NKTGL Natural- Killer/T-Cell Lymphoma
• the present invention relates to a method for predicting Natural Killer T-Cell Lymphoma (NKTCL) susceptibility and/or diagnosing NKTCL in a subject, comprising testing for the genotype of said subject for at least one JAK gene, wherein the presence of a mutant JAK gene indicates that a subject is at risk of developing and/or has NKTCL.
• NKTCL Natural Killer T-Cell Lymphoma
• the invention also relates to a method for predicting Natural Killer T-Cell Lymphoma (NKTCL) susceptibility and/or diagnosing NKTCL in a subject, comprising testing for whether said subject expresses a wildtype or mutant JAK protein, wherein expression of a mutant JAK protein indicates that the subject is at risk of developing and/or has NKTCL.
• NKTCL Natural Killer T-Cell Lymphoma
• the invention relates to a method for screening for an agent capable of treating NKTCL, comprising:
• the invention relates to a method for screening for an agent capable of reducing the activity of at least one of JAK protein, comprising:
• an NKTCL animal model comprising at least one mutant JAK gene.
• the invention relates to a method of treating Natural Killer T- Cell Lymphoma (NKTCL) comprising administering a JAK inhibitor to a subject.
• NTCL Natural Killer T- Cell Lymphoma
• the invention also includes use of a JAK inhibitor in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of Natural Killer T-Cell Lymphoma (NKTCL).
• the invention further includes a JAK inhibitor for use in treating Natural Killer T-Cell Lymphoma (NKTCL).
• Figure 1 shows High-resolution melt (HRM) and Sanger sequencing data leading to the identification of JAK3 A572V and A573V mutations in NKTCL samples.
• Figure 1. (a) shows the location of the A572V and A573V mutation on the JH2 pseudokinase domain of the JAK3 gene.
• High-resolution melt (HRM) and Sanger sequencing data used to validate JAK3 mutations are shown in Figure 1(b) through (h).
• Figure 1(c) shows HRM difference plots (in replicates) normalized to the wild-type sample for three genotypes: wild-type JAK3, heterozygous JAK3 (c.1715C>T, p.Ala572Val) and homozygous JAK3 (c.1715C>T, p.Ala572Val).
• Figure 1(d) shows representative HRM difference curves of an Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) NKTCL sample which was sequenced and confirmed as heterozygous JAK3 (c.1718C>T, p.Ala573Val) mutation.
• FFPE Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded
• HRM difference plots for sample with either JAK3 A572V or A573V mutation were similar due to the same C>T conversion.
• Representative sequencing chromatograms are also shown in Figurel (e) for the JAK3 wild-type allele, Figure 1(f) for the A572V heterozygous mutant, Figure 1 (g) for the A573V heterozygous mutant, and Figure 1(h) for the A572V homozygous mutant.
• Figure 2 shows data demonstrating the effect of IL-2 on JAK3 and STAT5 phosphorylation and CP-690,550 treatment on NKTCL cell lines.
• Figure 2 (a) shows immunoblotting results for NK-S1 (JAK-mutant) and KHYG-1 (wild-type) cells which were cultured with or without recombinant human IL-2 (200 lU/ml), harvested at 48 h, and assayed for JAK3 and STAT5 phosphorylation by immunoblotting.
• NK-S1 , KHYG-1 and K562 (control) cell lines were treated with the pan-JAK inhibitor CP-690,550 and the results of evaluation are shown in Figure 2(b) through 2(d).
• Figure 2(b) shows STAT5 phosphorylation in the samples evaluated by immunoblotting at 48 h.
• Figure 2(c) shows cell viability analyzed by MTS assay at 72 h.
• Figure 2(d) shows drug- induced apoptosis at 72 h evaluated by Annexin V-FITC staining and analyzed by flow cytometry. Experiments were repeated at least three times. Results in c and d represent the average of triplicates ⁇ s.e.m. * Indicates p ⁇ 0.05 by paired Student's t- test.
• Figure 3 provides data showing Cytokine independent growth of the mutant NKTCL cell line, NK-S1.
• NK-S1 JAK3 mutant
• KHYG-1 JAK3 wild-type
• Cell viability data is shown in Figure 3(a) for NK-S1 and in Figure 3(b) for KHYG-1.
• Cell viability was monitored daily with MTS assay for seven days and cell growth was expressed as absorbance at 490 nm minus the reference at 650 nm. Results in a and b represent the average of triplicates ⁇ s.d.
• Figure 4 shows data demonstrating that JAK3 A572V mutation causes constitutive JAK3 activity and IL-2 independent proliferation of NKTCL cells.
• Figure 4A shows data for NK-S1 cells which were treated with 100 nM JAK3 siRNA (si-JAK3) or control siRNA (si-Ctrl) for 24 h prior and subjected to proliferation assays up to 72 h (Right panel). In parallel, these cells were harvested and protein extracts were subjected to Western blotting with antibodies against phosphorylated JAK3 (pJAK3), phosphorylated STAT5 (pSTAT5), JAK3, STAT5, or ⁇ -actin as a normalization control.
• pJAK3 phosphorylated JAK3
• pSTAT5 phosphorylated STAT5
• JAK3, STAT5 JAK3, STAT5, or ⁇ -actin
• Figure 4B shows data for KHYG-1 cells which were transiently transfected with wild- type JAK3 (JAK3 WT) or mutated JAK3 expression vectors (i.e. JAK3 A572V).
• JAK3 WT wild- type JAK3
• JAK3 A572V mutated JAK3 expression vectors
• the relative pJAK3, pSTAT5, JAK3 and STAT5 levels in these cells were detected by Western blotting (upper panel), and proliferation assays using these cells were performed for 48 h with or without IL-2 (lower panel). All results are expressed as mean SEM of three independent experiments. * , p ⁇ 0.05 compared with Vehicle control (Vehicle). DEFINITIONS
• the term "inhibitor” refers to any substance which is able to reduce the activity of a protein, for example a JAK inhibitor is able to reduce the activity of a JAK protein.
• a JAK3 inhibitor is able to reduce the activity of a JAK3 protein. Reducing the activity of a protein may be direct or indirect - for example, by interfering with the expression of the protein or the mechanism by which the protein functions in a biological context.
• the JAK3 kinase may require binding of a molecule of ATP to an ATP-binding site, so by specifically binding to and blocking the ATP-binding site, the activity of the JAK3 kinase is reduced.
• the activity of the JAK protein may also require the activity of another protein, such as a cytokine receptor, so interference with the activity of this protein may also reduce the activity of the JAK protein.
• cytokine receptor a protein that promotes the expression of the JAK protein.
• fewer JAK3 kinase proteins may be expressed by interfering with gene expression at the relevant nucleic acid domain, such as the translation of the corresponding mRNA.
• NKTCL refers to NK/T cell lymphoma in accordance with WHO classification (6).
• the terms "Natural Killer T-Cell Lymphoma,” NKTCL and “NK/T-cell lymphoma” are used interchangeably to refer to a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that is not of B-cell origin.
• NKTCL has the classic morphology of tumor necrosis, angiocentricity as well as the appropriate immunophenotype, in particular, presence of CD56, cytoplasmic CD3 as well as near universal presence of EBER.
• NK/T cell lymphoma differs from Adult T cell Leukemia/Lymphoma, which is a disease of the T cell lineage and associated with HTLV-I infection.
• treating includes alleviating, preventing and/or eliminating one or more symptoms associated with a disease, for example Natural killer T-cell Lymphoma (NKTCL) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• NKTTCL Natural killer T-cell Lymphoma
• the present invention relates to cancer therapy and/or diagnosis, in particular Natural- Killer/T-Cell Lymphoma (NKTCL) therapy and/or diagnosis.
• NTCL Natural- Killer/T-Cell Lymphoma
• a method for predicting Natural Killer T- Cell Lymphoma (NKTCL) susceptibility and/or diagnosing NKTCL in a subject comprising testing for the genotype of said subject for at least one JAK gene wherein the presence of a mutant JAK gene indicates that a subject is at risk of developing and/or has NKTCL.
• the presence of either a heterozygous or homozygous mutant JAK gene indicates that the subject is at risk of developing and/or has NKTCL.
• Any one or a combination of any of the JAK genes may be tested.
• the JAK gene tested may be selected from the group consisting of JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 and TYK2. For example, the JAK3 and/or JAK1 genes may be tested.
• SEQ ID NO: 1 indicates a wildtype JAK3 gene.
• the presence of a mutant JAK3 gene comprising a substitution of C with T at nucleotide 15792 and/or a substitution of C with T at nucleotide 15795 of SEQ ID NO: 1 indicates that a subject is at risk of developing and/or has NKTCL.
• SEQ ID NO: 3 indicates a wildtype JAK1 gene.
• the presence of a mutant JAK1 gene comprises a substitution of T with G at nucleotide 124823 of SEQ ID NO: 3 indicates that a subject is susceptible and/or has NKTCL.
• the presence of both mutant JAK1 and JAK3 genes also indicate that a subject is at risk of developing and/or has NKTCL.
• the method may be performed on an isolated cell sample from the subject.
• the isolated cell sample may be from a blood and/or tumour sample. Accordingly, the method may further comprise providing an isolated cell sample from the subject for testing.
• the method may further comprise isolating nucleic acid molecules from the subject, blood sample and/or isolated cell sample for said testing.
• the isolated nucleic acid molecules may comprise genomic DNA or mRNA.
• the testing may be performed on genomic DNA, mRNA and/or cDNA.
• testing may be by sequence analysis, restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, hybridization, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and/or reverse transcription PCR.
• PCR polymerase chain reaction
• techniques such as Sanger sequencing and High resolution melt may be used for testing.
• NKTCL Natural Killer T-Cell Lymphoma
• JAK protein tested may be selected from the group consisting of JAK1 , JAK2, JAK3 and TYK2.
• the JAK3 and/or JAK1 proteins may be tested.
• SEQ ID NO: 2 indicates a wildtype JAK3 protein.
• the presence of a mutant JAK3 gene comprising a substitution of A with V at amino acid 572 and/or a substitution of A with V at amino acid 573 of SEQ ID NO: 2 indicates that a subject is at risk of developing and/or has NKTCL.
• SEQ ID NO: 4 indicates a wildtype JAK1 protein.
• the presence of a mutant JAK1 protein comprising a substitution of Y with D at amino acid 652 of SEQ ID NO: 4 indicates a subject at risk of developing and/or has NKTCL.
• the presence of both mutant JAK3 and JAK1 proteins also indicate a subject at risk of developing and/or has NKTCL.
• the method may be performed on an isolated blood and/or cell sample from the subject.
• the isolated cell sample may be from a tumour.
• the method may further comprise providing an isolated blood and/or cell sample from the subject for testing.
• the method may further comprise isolating proteins molecules from the subject, blood sample and/or isolated cell sample for said testing. Any suitable method may be used to detect whether the relevant wildtype and/or mutant JAK protein is expressed.
• testing may be by protein sequencing and/or antibody detection.
• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using at least one antibody with specificity for the relevant wildtype and/or mutant JAK protein may be used.
• ELISA Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
• a method for screening for an agent capable of reducing the activity of at least one JAK protein comprising:
• the NKTCL cell line may carry any one or a combination of any of mutant JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 or TYK2 genes.
• the NKTCL cell line may carry a mutant JAK3 gene and/or a mutant JAK1 gene.
• the mammalian NKTCL cell line may carry at least one of the following mutations:
• the invention also relates to an NKTCL animal model comprising at least one mutant JAK gene.
• the NKTCL animal model may comprise at least one mutation selected from the group consisting of mutant JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 and TYK2 genes.
• the NKTCL animal model comprises a mutant JAK3 gene and/or a mutant JAK1 gene. More in particular, the NKTCL animal model comprises at least one of the following mutations:
• NKTCL animal model may also be useful for screening candidate agents capable of treating NKTCL.
• a method of treating Natural Killer T-Cell Lymphoma comprising administering at least one JAK inhibitor to a subject.
• Any suitable JAK inhibitor may be used.
• the JAK inhibitor may able to reduce the activity of JAK3 protein.
• the JAK inhibitor may inhibit at least one of JAK1 , JAK2, JAK3 and/or TYK2. Accordingly, the inhibitor may be a pan-JAK inhibitor.
• the JAK inhibitor may inhibit JAK3 and/or JAK1. More in particular, the JAK inhibitor may inhibit JAK3 or the JAK inhibitor may also inhibit JAK1.
• the JAK inhibitor may comprise 3-[(3R,4R)-4-methyl-3- [methyl(7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)amino]piperidin-1-yl]-3-oxopropanenitrile (also known as CP-690,550).
• the JAK inhibitor may comprise (E)-2-cyano-3- (4-nitrophenyl)-N-((R)-1-phenylethyl)acrylamide (also known as WP-1034).
• the subject to whom the JAK inhibitor is administered may comprise a mammal.
• the subject may comprise a human.
• the subject may carry a homozygous or heterozygous mutation in at least one of the JAK genes/JAK proteins.
• the subject may carry a homozygous or heterozygous mutation in JAK1I0AYA, JAK2I JAK2, JAK3/JAK3 and/or ⁇ 2 ⁇ 2.
• the subject may carry a homozygous or heterozygous mutation in JAKi/JAK and/or JAK3/JAK2.
• the subject may have at least one mutation selected from the group consisting of JAK3-A572V, JAK3-A573V and JAK1-Y652D.
• the subject may also comprise a homozygous wildtype phenotype.
• the subject may have increased expression of any one of the JAK genes, its transcriptional and/or translational products (proteins), whether it carries a homozygous wildtype, heterozygous or homozygous mutant gene.
• CP-690,550 is a JAK inhibitor. It is known as Tofacitinib, Tasocitinib, or by the trade name XELJANZ. Its chemical name is 3-[(3R,4R)-4-methyl-3-[methyl(7H-pyrrolo[2,3- d]pyrimidin-4-yl)amino]piperidin-1 -yl]-3-oxopropanenitrile and its structural formula is:
• WP-1034 has been described as having proapoptotic and antileukemic activity in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (Faderl et al., Anticancer Research 25: 1841-1850 (2005)) (8). It is a member of the tyrphostin family of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which has been predominantly studied as an inhibitor of the Jak-Stat pathway. Its chemical structure and name are as follows:
• NKTCL Natural-killer T-cell lymphoma
• JAK3 Janus kinase 3
• HRM High Resolution Melt
• NKTCL cell line harbouring JAK3 A572V mutation showed IL-2 independent growth and constitutive JAK3 and STAT5 phosphorylation suggesting its oncogenic role. Functional characterization of the JAK3 mutations support its involvement in cytokine- independent JAK/STAT constitutive activation leading to increased cell growth. These mutations may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of NKTCL. Moreover, treatment of both JAK3-mutant and wild-type NKTCL cell lines with a novel pan-JAK inhibitor, CP-690,550, resulted in dose dependent reduction of phosphorylated STAT5, reduced cell viability and increased apoptosis.
• a novel pan-JAK inhibitor CP-690,550
• CP-690,550 is a pan-JAK inhibitor, having an inhibitory effect on not just JAK3 but also JAK1. This may be important because in their function within the JAK-STAT signalling pathway system, JAK1 and JAK3 cross-talk and there may be some compensatory upregulation of one in response to inhibition of the other. For example, if JAK3 is inhibited, JAK1 may be upregulated so as to compensate for the reduced activity of JAK3, and this may preserve JAK-STAT signalling. The reverse may also apply. To take the example further, treatment of NKTCL using a pan-JAK inhibitor that is able to reduce the activity of not just JAK1 but JAK3 as well may be especially effective at inhibiting JAK-STAT signalling.
• NKTCL Matched fresh-frozen tissue and peripheral blood samples were obtained from four consented patients with NKTCL.
• the inventors further identified paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from 61 patients with NKTCL for validation.
• the diagnosis of NKTCL was made according to the 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumors of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues (6). All samples were centrally reviewed by Singhealth hematopathologists. This study was approved by the SingHealth Centralized Institutional Review Board, Singapore. DNA isolation
• DNA of frozen tissue and paired blood samples was isolated using a DNeasy Blood and Tissue Mini Kit (Qiagen) and a QIAmp DNA Blood Midi Kit (Qiagen), respectively, according to manufacturer's instruction.
• FFPE Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded
• Genomic DNA of extracted from each sample was whole genome amplified with REPLi-g WGA Midi Kit (Qiagen).
• the coding exonic sequences of JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 and Tyk2 were sequenced by Sanger sequencing to detect mutations. Somatic orgin of the mutations were cofirmed when the mutations were only detected in the tumor but not in the paired blood sample.
• ORF Open reading frame, coding region, starts from ATG
• HRM Curve Analysis was used to discern the presence of the point mutations.
• SsoFast TMEvaGreen Supermix® Bio Rad, Cat. No. 172-5200
• HRM primers were used at a final concentration of 600 nM and reactions were performed with BioRad CFX96 Real time PCR Detection System in replicates.
• the cycling and melting conditions were as follows: one cycle of 98 °C for 2 min; 39 cycles of 98 °C for 5 sec, 58 °C for 10 sec; one cycle of 95°C for 30 min and a melt from 72 °C to 95 °C rising at 0.2 °C/sec.
• the HRM curves were analyzed with the Biorad Precision Melt AnalysisTM software. HRM difference curves deviating from the wild-type curve were considered to be harbouring a mutation.
• PCR was performed with Invitrogen Platinum Taq Polymerase (Cat. No. 10966-083) and cycled at 95°C for 10 min; 39 cycles of 95 °C for 30 sec; 60 °C for 30 sec, 72 °C for 1 minute and a final extension of 72 °C for 10 min.
• Sequencing PCR was performed with ABI BigDye Terminator v3.1 (Cat. No. 4337457) and cycled at 96 °C for 1 min; 29 cycles of 96 °C for 10 sec; 50 °C for 5 sec & 60 °C for 4 min. The resulting products were run on ABI 3730 DNA Analyzer.
• NK-S1 is a cell line established from a previously described NKTCL xenograft(7).
• the xenograft was derived from metastatic tumor of the testis from the same patient found to have both JAK1 (Y652D) and JAK3 (A572V) mutations.
• NK-S1 was cultured for more than 60 passages in DMEM medium supplemented with antibiotics, heat- inactivated FBS (10%) and equine serum (ES) (10%).
• Phenotypic analysis showed surface CD3 " CD56 + , and Granzyme B + by intracellular staining.
• NK-S1 NKTCL cell line was sequenced and confirmed to carry homozygous mutation for JAK3 A572V, as well as a mutation on JAK1 codon 652.
• KHYG-1 is an IL-2 dependent aggressive NK leukemia cell line obtained from the Japanese Collection of Research Bioresources, and it was cultured in RPMI medium supplemented with antibiotics, heat-inactivated FBS (10%), ES (10%) and 200 lU/ml of recombinant human IL-2 (Proleukin, Novartis) 7 .
• KHYG-1 was sequenced and found to be wild-type for JAK3 codon 572 and 573, and JAK1 codon 652 and 658.
• K562 (CCL-234, ATCC) is a chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cell line positive for the BCR-ABL fusion gene.
• CML chronic myeloid leukemia
• Cells were harvested at indicated time intervals after incubation with or without recombinant human IL-2 (Proleukin, Novartis), or in the presence or absence of CP- 690,550. Cells were washed with ice-cold phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and lysed in 50 ⁇ of ice-cold RIPA buffer [25 m Tris-HCL, pH 7.6, 150 mM NaCI, 1 % Nonidet P- 40, 1 % sodium deoxycholate, 0.1% SDS, 1X Phosphatase Inhibitor (Cat. No. 78420, Thermo Fisher Scientific), 1X Protease Inhibitor (Cat. No.
• JAK1 Y652D mutant No additional JAK1 Y652D mutant was found.
• JAK2 V617F p.Val617Phe or c.1849G>T
• IL-2 is an essential cytokine required for the proliferation and activation of NK cells (4). JAK1 and JAK3 mediate IL-2 receptor signaling through phosphorylation of STAT transcription factors (5). In line with the functional importance of the activating JAK3 mutations identified, we tested if JAK3 mutations could confer IL-2 independent growth to the NKTCL cell line (NK-S1 ) that harbors a homozygous JAK3 A572V mutation. JAK- mutant (NK-S1 ) cells showed IL-2 independent growth (Fig. 3) and constitutive phosphorylation of both JAK3 and STAT5 (Fig. 2a). In contrast, type KHYG- 1 cells were clearly IL-2 dependent (Fig. 3 and 2a).
• NK-S1 cells treated with JAK3 siRNAs exhibited a significant reduction in cell proliferation and also decreased autophosphorylation of JAK3 and STAT5, compared with cells treated with control siRNAs (Fig. 4A).
• KHYG-1 cells transiently over-expressing a mutated JAK3 (JAK3 A572V ) cDNA demonstrated IL-2 independent proliferation and autophosphorylation of JAK3 and STAT5 (Fig. 4B).
• JAK mutations confers cytokine independent growth in a NKTCL cell line established from xenograft derived from patient sample harboring both JAK3 A572V and JAK1 Y652D mutation.
• NK-S1 showed IL-2 independent growth (Fig. 3), constitutive JAK3 and STAT5 phosphorylation (Fig. 2a) in contrast to the wild-type KHYG-1 , which was tested not to carry JAK1 and JAK3 mutations identified (Fig. 2a).
• CP-690,550 a pan-JAK inhibitor
• a pan-JAK inhibitor to suppress the JAK-STAT pathway.
• activated JAK proteins directly phosphorylate STAT proteins
• the JAK-mutated cell line (NK-S1 ) and the wild-type NKTCL cell line (KHYG-1 ) were treated with increasing concentrations of CP-690,550 and analyzed the pSTAT5 by immunoblotting ( Figure 2b). Both the NK-S1 and KHYG-1 cell lines showed a dose- dependent reduction of pSTAT5 (Fig. 2a) and reduced cell viability (Fig. 2b) upon treatment with the inhibitor.
• CP-690,550 did not inhibit pSTAT5 in the control K562 cell lines since its STAT5 phosphorylation is independent of activated JAK3 (Fig. 2b).
• the reduced viability of NK-S1 correlated with increased apoptosis as shown by Annexin V staining (Fig. 2c).
• JAK3 A572 and A573V and JAK1 Y652D mutations have been identified in NKTCL patients, and the prevalence of JAK3 mutations was validated to be 35.4%.
• a mutant NKTCL cell line harboring JAK3 A572V mutation showed IL-2 independent growth and constitutive JAK3 and STAT5 phosphorylation suggesting an oncogenic role for mutations in the corresponding nucleic acid domain.
• pan-Jak inhibitor could be a new therapeutic agent for NKTCL patients.
• CP-690,550 a pan-JAK-inhibitor, was shown to reduce cell viability and cause apoptosis in both JAK3 wild-type (KHYG-1 ) and mutant (NK-S1) cell lines.
• KHYG-1 is an IL-2 dependent NKTCL cell line, thus its sensitivity to pan-JAK inhibitor.

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